Laurel Cottage - Robin Hoods Bay

Escape with your loved ones to this thoughtfully renovated cottage situated in the heart of Robin Hood's Bay. With its narrow, cobbled streets and quaint cottages, it is one of the most picturesque villages on the English coastline. Situated between Scarborough and Whitby, this charming old fishing village is found nestling at the edge of a wide sweeping bay backed by spectacular cliffs and dramatic moorland scenery. Stunning views over the magnificent cliffs can be enjoyed, with rock pooling and paddling on the beach, as well as superb walking, with the Cleveland Way and Coast to Coast long-distance walks crossing here. The village has everything you need in the way of amenities, with charming alleyways to explore and plenty of places to rest, relax and take refreshments. A perfect base for enjoying the Yorkshire coast.

This 17th-century traditional stone-fronted cottage has undergone renovation and extensive modernisation. As you step inside you are greeted with lots of charm and original features such as Yorkshire sash windows, beamed ceilings, and fireplaces, with modern conveniences such as underfloor heating. Sip a glass of wine listening to your favourite music, then get the wood burner going and spend the evening snuggled up with one another, perhaps with your dog at your feet, as you catch up on your box sets or stream a movie through the Smart TV.

The children will get into the pirate spirit within their dedicated 'Smugglers Cove' den, cleverly designed at the rear of the cottage. You’ll also discover a good selection of board games, books and DVDs to keep everyone entertained on wild, wet days.

Enjoy quality time as you cook together in the country-style kitchen to create a mouth-watering meal. You’ll have an induction hob, electric oven, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, and a microwave to put to good use, especially when you consider what goodies are in store within the local produce shops and artisan bakeries. The friendly owners have even included a welcome pack to help you settle in. Canine friends have been thought of too, as they also have their very own welcome pack to enjoy. Completing the ground floor is a utility room where you can wash your wet and muddy clothes, and a ground floor WC.

Venture up the steep, winding, wooden stairs when sleep calls; there are two bedrooms on the first floor - a double with its own en-suite shower room and a twin bedroom. As you wake the next morning, wander through to the bathroom, place your towel on the heated rail and enjoy a rejuvenating shower. Climb the traditional winding staircase to the top floor where you will find another double bedroom; all bedrooms offer plenty of furniture to store your belongings.

Take your morning coffee outside to the front of the cottage and have a seat on the bench whilst watching the world go by. The shops and pubs are a stone’s throw away for the nights you would like to take a break from cooking. Who needs to worry about washing up when you can tuck into traditional fish and chips wrapped in newspaper on the seafront?

• 3 bedrooms - 2 doubles and 1 twin
• 2 bathrooms - 1 bathroom with shower over the bath and WC, 1 en-suite shower room with WC, and separate ground-floor WC
• Induction hob, electric oven, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, and microwave
• Utility room with washing machine and drying rack
• Travel cot and highchair available
• Wood burner (first basket of logs supplied) - Note unfortunately the wood burner will only be available from mid Nov onwards
• Smart TV in the lounge
• A selection of board games, books, and DVDs
• Welcome pack for guests and dogs
• Bench to the front of the property
• Towels are to stay in the property, please bring your own beach towels
• Parking - there is no parking at the cottage. Parking is available at the top of the hill in the council car parks (charges apply). Parking tickets for 2 or more days are available from the Post Office. Bank Top Car park is free to use from November to the end of February (subject to availability)
• Shops and pubs within 10 metres
• Please note: There are steep, winding traditional cottage stairs in this property
• Arrival: 15:00 onwards
• Departure: before 10:00, unless otherwise stated in your arrival details
• 2 dogs allowed. Dogs are charged at £20 each per full or part week

Robin Hood's Bay is one of the most popular coastal locations in Yorkshire or the UK for that matter. Once home to the busiest smuggling trade on the Yorkshire coast, said to involve fisherman, clergy and gentry alike, today the village has adopted a much more sedate pace of life. The village is a maze of cobbled streets and higgledy-piggledy houses which seem to tumble down towards the sea. Walkers can delight in the fact that Wainwright's famous Coast to Coast walk starts (or finishes, depending which way you look at it) in the village. And the bay itself is just one of the many charming locations on the coast.

For dinner, head down to one of the romantic bistros or nautically themed inns where you can soak up the atmosphere with a candlelit dinner over a bottle of wine or two. If you want to dine in, take advantage of the well-stocked local stores, including an excellent fishmonger selling the freshest locally caught crab. Traditional sweet shops stock all your old favourites and there are several little boutiques selling all manner of delightful things.

As hard as it will be to drag yourself away from Robin Hood’s Bay, you really ought to explore the rest of the coast. Much like its Cornish counterpart, the Yorkshire coastline is a heady mix of rugged cliff tops, peaceful bays and pretty fishing villages. With long sandy beaches and all the traditional seaside trimmings of yesteryear, this is the ultimate bucket-and-spade territory. That's not to say it's stuck in the past; in fact, the coast's villages and towns combine the traditional with the contemporary effortlessly, with trinket shops and tearooms sitting alongside upmarket champagne and oyster bars.

This region is best known for the gorgeously Gothic town of Whitby (5.5 miles). Playing host throughout history to Romans, Saxons, Celts and Danes amongst others, the town's rich heritage is immediately obvious. Straddling the River Esk and dominated by the 13th-century ruins of St Hilda's Abbey on the East Cliff, Whitby's crooked cobbled streets and picturesque harbour have been a magnet for artists and tourists alike for centuries. Providing the backdrop for some of Lewis Carroll's work, it was also famously the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. For a real sense of the town's atmospheric ambience, climb the 199 abbey steps at dusk and wander around St. Mary's churchyard on the headland. You can further indulge a desire for the macabre on one of the regular ghost walks from Whale Bone Arch on West Cliff.

Although you could happily spend the weekend mooching about the independent shops, bars and cafes along Whitby's bustling medieval streets, it's well worth striking out to sample some of the other less-known coastal villages nearby. Sandsend, Staithes and Runswick Bay are all within 15.5 miles, and each has its own unique charm. Ravenscar (11 miles) is also a great spot to go seal-watching as they bask in the sunlight around the headland.